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[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 152 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 152

 Welcoming His Excellency Hamid Karzai, the President of Afghanistan, 
and expressing support for a strong and enduring strategic partnership 
               between the United States and Afghanistan.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 23, 2005

 Mr. Hagel (for himself, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Biden, and Mr. Reid) submitted 
      the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Welcoming His Excellency Hamid Karzai, the President of Afghanistan, 
and expressing support for a strong and enduring strategic partnership 
               between the United States and Afghanistan.

Whereas Afghanistan has suffered the ravages of war, foreign occupation, and 
        oppression;
Whereas following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States 
        launched Operation Enduring Freedom, which helped to establish an 
        environment in which the people of Afghanistan are building the 
        foundations for a democratic government;
Whereas, on January 4, 2004, the Constitutional Loya Jirga of Afghanistan 
        adopted a constitution that provides for equal rights for full 
        participation of women, mandates full compliance with international 
        norms for human and civil rights, establishes procedures for free and 
        fair elections, creates a system of checks and balances between the 
        executive, legislative, and judicial branches, encourages a free market 
        economy and private enterprise, and obligates the state to prevent 
        terrorist activity and the production and trafficking of narcotics;
Whereas, on October 9, 2004, approximately 8,400,000 Afghans, including nearly 
        3,500,000 women, voted in Afghanistan's first direct Presidential 
        election at the national level, demonstrating commitment to democracy, 
        courage in the face of threats of violence, and a deep sense of civic 
        responsibility;
Whereas, on December 7, 2004, Hamid Karzai took the oath of office as the first 
        democratically elected President in the history of Afghanistan;
Whereas nationwide parliamentary elections are planned in Afghanistan for 
        September 2005, further demonstrating the Afghan people's will to live 
        in a democratic state, and the commitment of the Government of 
        Afghanistan to democratic norms;
Whereas the Government of Afghanistan is committed to halting the cultivation 
        and trafficking of narcotics and has pursued, in cooperation with the 
        United States and its allies, a wide range of counter-narcotics 
        initiatives;
Whereas the United States and the international community are working to assist 
        Afghanistan's counter-narcotics campaign by supporting programs to 
        provide alternative livelihoods for farmers, sustainable economic 
        development, and capable Afghan security forces; and
Whereas, on March 17, 2005, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said of 
        Afghanistan ``this country was once a source of terrorism; it is now a 
        steadfast fighter against terrorism. There could be no better story than 
        the story of Afghanistan in the last several years and there can be no 
        better story than the story of American and Afghan friendship. It is a 
        story of cooperation and friendship that will continue. We have a long-
        term commitment to this country'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) welcomes, as an honored guest and valued friend of the 
        United States, President Hamid Karzai on the occasion of his 
        visit to the United States as the first democratically elected 
        President of Afghanistan scheduled for May 21 through 25, 2005;
            (2) supports a democratic, stable, and prosperous 
        Afghanistan as essential to the security of the United States; 
        and
            (3) supports a strong and enduring strategic partnership 
        between the United States and Afghanistan as a primary 
        objective of both countries to advance their shared vision of 
        peace, freedom, security and broad-based economic development 
        in Afghanistan, the broader South Asia region, and throughout 
        the world.
                                 <all>
```